Billy Woodruff is seeking re-election to the St. Charles Parish Council, but this time in the District 4 race facing opponent Oliver G. Dufrene Jr. in the Oct. 24 election.
Woodruff, R-Des Allemands, served two years as District 2 councilman, winning the race by 20 votes, and worked 27 years with the parish’s Public Works Department as a heavy equipment operator.
“Because of my working knowledge of the parish and my two years as a councilman, this gives me the experience to finish the job we started on and there’s a lot of stuff I started long term and I want to finish it,” Woodruff said. “I’ve dealt with the problems and I think now that I have this knowledge. I know what needs to be done I can get it done.”
Dufrene, D-Paradis, has worked with local government on improving fire departments and finances to ensure all is handled within the law. He also serves as fire representative with the St. Charles Emergency Operations Center during emergencies.
“I have lived my entire life of 55 years in Paradis, which is in District 4,” Dufrene said. “I am experienced in helping people resolve issues on both personal and professional levels. My time working in the chemical industry has prepared me to deal with emergencies and hazardous materials incidents that could occur in the area.”On the parish’s No. 1 issue, Woodruff said it’s getting levees built and improving drainage.
“We have to get that so we can get affordable homeowners insurance,” he said. “Without FEMA approval of the levees, we won’t be able to afford to live here.”
In overall key issues for the parish, Woodruff said it was getting a red light at U.S. Highway 90 at WPA Road to make it safer for school buses. He also wants a playground for Paradis, proposing to work with the St. Charles Parish Library to get it done and using land the parish already owns for the site. He also wants to improve the Des Allemands playground, which he said parents have told him has bathrooms in “deplorable condition.”
He again cited drainage problems in the area, especially in Bayou Gauche, and would put more public works people to work on these projects.
Dufrene’s No. 1 issue for the parish is continuing to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on completing the levees and ensuring adequate maintenance of current levees against storm surge.
In overall key issues, he singled the need to continue working with the state Department of Transportation and Development on improving safety and improving highways, working with the St. Charles Parish Hospital to improve ambulance response and service, working with area volunteer fire departments to improve service at minimal cost to citizens, and working with the parish Sheriff’s Office to improve lighting issues, abandoned buildings and installing speed bumps to slow traffic.
On leadership, Woodruff said he can do the job because he has the experience.
“Many times, when I worked for public works, we were handed work orders and I had to set up the job, determine equipment, material and manpower, as well as hours to do the job and it gave me the ability to lead the crew,” he said.“The same way with the pump stations, when we pulled the pump, I had to set up where we placed the cherry picker and ensure the job was done safely. “I developed leadership skills.”
Dufrene also said his work experience gave him an advantage as candidate for council.
“Having worked for Union Carbide-Dow for 32 years, with 26 of those years working as a supervisor-manager, I understand how to work with people and other departments to accomplish goals as a team,” he said. “I have been fire chief of the Paradis Volunteer Fire Department for 35 years, leading volunteers in the protection of life and property.”
Be the first to comment